Summer Reading Programs For Kids

Looking for a way to keep your kids engaged in reading this summer?

There is no shortage of incentive programs to choose from. Check out this varied list:

- This one's new to me: Be sure to check out the Mensa Foundation's
Excellence in Reading Award Program at
http://mensaforkids.com/school_template.cfm?showPage=school_readeraward.cfm

- Half Price Books' program runs June 1st through July 31. If kids read 15
minutes a day, they can earn a $5 gift card. For more information, check
out http://www.hpb.com/community/fyb/. You can get the reading log at:
http://www.hpb.com/community/fyb/pdfs/FYBReadingLog.pdf

- PBS Kids Summer Reading Challenge: PBS/iVillage has a program that could
keep you busy all summer long. There are several aspects to it, and you can
find out more at http://www.pbs.org/parents/read/. Each week there will be
a special theme, and you can read more about that at:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/read/pdfs/themeweekschedule.pdf

- Borders has what they call the "Double Dog Dare Challenge." Kids who read
10 books and track them can get a free book. For more info, check out:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_doubledogdare

- Chuck E. Cheese has a number of awards that they will grant 10 free tokens
for, including reading (and no nose picking!). You can find them at:
http://www.chuckecheese.com/promotions/rewards-calendars.php

- Barnes & Noble will give kids a free book for every 8 books they read.
They also have some parent information. Find out more at:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/index.asp

- Scholastic Book also has a summer program in which kids read and log in to
win prizes. Details are available at: http://www.scholastic.com/summer/

- Book It! will give your child a "prize package" for reading. There are
some fun things in it - check out their Web site for more info:
http://www.bookitprogram.com/summerbreak/docs/entryform.pdf. Be sure to
check out the Pizza Hut school year Book It! program as well:
http://www.bookitprogram.com/

- If you are on the east coast, TD Bank has a summer reading program:
http://www.tdbank.com/summerreading/. Commerce Bank will deposit $10 in
young savers' accounts when they read ten books.

- If you are in an area with H-E-B Grocery Store, they have a program as
well. The instructions can be found at:
http://www.hebuddy.com/content/pdf/summerreadingclub.pdf

- Even Pottery Barn has a summer reading program (who knew?!), along
with other kids' events. Check it out at:
http://www.potterybarnkids.com/customer-service/store-events.html

- Old Spaghetti Factory offers a free kids meal to every child who reads
five books. Information at: http://www.osf.com/kids/rewards-of-reading.html

- Sylvan Learning Centers has a free reading incentive program for kids
through grade 8 that runs all the time. You can register and find more
information at: http://www.bookadventure.com/

- Kids 8 & up can be "reading warriors" with this special program built
around Erin Hunter's Warrior series of books. Information:
http://www.readingwarriors.com/rwshell.html

If you're feeling a little less cerebral or need some air conditioning, this
Web site lists places with free summer movies:
http://freebies.about.com/od/familyactivities/tp/free-summer-movies.htm

There are so many great programs from which to choose!  There is bound to be at least one that sparks an interest in every young reader. And there are no rules that say you can't participate in more than one ;) Feel free to share this post. If you participate in any of these programs I'd love to hear your thoughts on your experience.

Happy Summer. Happy reading!

Top Educational Websites for 2011

Homeschool.com has come out with their annual list of the top 100 educational websites. The full list is categorized by subject and you'll want to bookmark it as a great reference tool. I've linked the top five sites here, but check out the full list. There are some great tools for fun and learning with your kids!

The Top Five Sites for 2011

1. www.exploratorium.edu
2. www.pbs.org
3. www.brainpop.com
4. www.sheppardsoftware.com
5. www.donnayoung.org

For the full list click here.

April is National Poetry Month

Buttercups and Daisies

~Mary Howitt

Buttercups and daisies-

Oh the pretty flowers,

Coming ere the springtime

To tell of sunny hours.

While the trees are leafless,

While the fields are bare,

Buttercups and daisies

Spring up here and there.

Ere the snowdrop peepeth,

Ere the croscus bold,

Ere the early primrose

Opes its paly gold,

Somewhere on a sunny bank

Buttercups are bright;

Somewhere 'mong the frozen grass

Peeps the daisy white.

Little hardy flowers

Like to children poor,

Playing in their sturdy health

By their mother's door:

Purple with the north wind,

Yet alert and bold;

Fearing not and caring not,

Though they be a-cold.

What to them is weather!

What are stormy showers!

Buttercups and daisies

Are these human flowers!

He who gave them hardship

And a life of care,

Gave them likewise hardy strength,

And patient hearts, to bear.

Welcome yellow buttercups,

Welcome daisies white,

Ye are in my spirit

Visioned, a delight!

Coming ere the springtime

Of sunny hours to tell-

Speaking to our hearts of Him

Who doeth all things well.

April is Poetry Month! I have always had a love of poetry. I think it was a gift from a couple of really great English teachers in Junior High and High School. I was fortunate to be among their students and developed an appreciation for poetry and literature.
This month is dedicated to helping your kids to do the same thing. PBS has a fun widget that will help get you started.

Also, check out these links for more poetic fun!

Story It

Poetry Archive

Poets.org (Don't miss this list of Great Poems to Teach)

FactMonster

Find Lesson Plans at Scholastic and Read Write Think.
Plus find resources at TeacherVision (if you don't subscribe, you'll get three free pdf's or you can start a free 7 day trial).

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FREE Reading Resource

Here's a tip I just picked up from Frugal Freebies and Deals. You can download 28 children's picture books, by Hans Wilhelm, for FREE by visiting Children's Books Forever. There are books available in 12 languages!

The books can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (also Free) and they can be printed or used on Smartboard, Powerpoint or overhead projectors. Permission is granted for non-commercial use only. Additional stories will be added to check the website for update. Also, be sure the click the links toward the bottom left for titles under "Toddler", "Humor", "Inspiration" and "Holiday".

What a great resource! Enjoy :)

ASL Fingerspelling Practice

Check out this fun American Sing Language Widget I found. I wanted to add it to my side bar but it doesn't fit well. Plus I've been having trouble with slow loading pages...sigh. Big changes are coming. Please bear with me!

In the mean time, I thought I'd put it in a post and pass on the fun. I have used Sign Language with all of my kids and it has been a lot of fun and a useful learning tool. I studied ASL in college for a while on my way to an Interpreter degree, which was cut short by baby #2. Maybe someday, it's on my to do list :D

Have you used ASL in your home? Just curious. Baby Sign was huge with my first 2. It's not as HOT on the market today, but still a wonderful language to share with your children. I am working on another post on the subject so stay tuned for more :D

Free Educational Videos for Kids

Wow, I have hit the motherload. I just found NeoK12, and amazing website that has cataloged the best selection of free online educational videos for kids from preschool on up. You will be amazed at what is on the site, I was! Tons of great videos categorized by topic and all of them have been reviewed by K-12 teachers for kid-friendly content. The whole site is certified by iwatchdog as a kid safe website.

I don't know about you, but around here we love books. We have a children's library of nearly 500 books encompassing all sorts of topics, fiction and non. We are also fans of The History Channel (did you catch Expedition Africa last night??? awesome), Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, the National Geographic Channel and the like.

We let our kids watch some of these programs because they give us a look at places, animals and habitats in a multi-sensory way that is very engaging and memorable. While I believe that books are invaluable and should be a primary source of information because that engage the mind in ways that other media cannot, I also have to admit that seeing and hearing live action can be much more exciting when researching certain topics.

That is why I am loving this NeoK12 website. It offers short engaging videos that are easy accessible and kid safe. I don't have to worry about commercials or scary creepy previews freaking out my toddler or preschooler who might also be in close proximity. The length of each video is listed next to the clip. Most I have seen range from 2 - 9 minutes. Not long enough to be boring, but still packed with information.

I am giving this site two huge thumbs up. And, whether you homeschool or not (even if you don't have kids) I think it's worth your time to check it out. I hope you will enjoy it was much as we are!